The people of Paris - and towns and villages throughout France - vote tomorrow (Saturday, 13 March) to elect local councils. The results will be keenly awaited for any pointer they can give on the popularity of the Pompidou administration. In most of the country the campaign has been relatively quiet but in the Paris area, which is divided into 14 sectors for municipal voting, it has been marred by violent street fighting between rival parties and the murder of an election bill-poster.

Under the municipal election system, voters ballot for one of a number of lists of candidates competing for council seats. The winning councillors then elect a Mayor, except in Paris which does not have one. In drawing up its lists the Government has accepted a wide range of political alliances, including some former opponents of General de Gaulle. Sportsmen and pop singers are among those seeking election and in five towns all-women lists are challenging the male candidates.